Carolyn DiPaoloBill Wilkins was in an auto accident on Aug. 19.
Riviera Beach’s new city manager is in a medical rehabilitation center after an emergency six weeks ago that put him in the hospital.
Bill Wilkins, 79, who moved up from interim city manager to city manager on Aug. 5, was in an auto accident on Aug. 19.
The aftermath of the accident on Blue Heron Boulevard sent him to the hospital, his wife, Brenda Wilkins, told Channel 25’s Terri Parker this week. Wilkins was driving a city vehicle and said the accident was a hit-and-run.
Wilkins told Channel 25 that he is waiting for the doctors to clear him to return to work.
A divided City Council pushed aside a national search to tap Wilkins to lead Riviera Beach three months after declining to renew the contract of its former city manager, Jonathan Evans.
Chairperson Bruce Guyton led the drive to hire him, saying Riviera Beach’s massive redevelopment and a challenging budget year required Wilkins’ experience.
Wilkins is a well-liked veteran government administrator who served as Riviera Beach city manager from 1979 until 1987.
He worked as an assistant Palm Beach County manager for 10 years and returned as Riviera Beach city manager in 1999. He resigned in 2008, citing a need to focus on his health.
Wilkins’ appointment to interim city manager came the same night the council voted not to renew Evans’ contract.
Wilkins was in the audience and accepted a four-month appointment on the spot.
On Aug. 5, the council voted 3-2 to award Wilkins a one-year contract. Council members Shirley Lanier and KaShamba Miller-Anderson voted no.
The city has made no announcement about Wilkins’ accident, hospitalization or who is in charge of the administration. City staff did not return calls, answer questions or respond to public records requests from Stet News about the accident or Wilkins’ recovery.
Since the Aug. 19 accident, Assistant City Manager Kevin Coppin has sat in the city manager’s chair during 10 meetings of the City Council, Community Redevelopment Agency and utility board.
Coppin has built a career in Palm Beach County law enforcement and earned a law degree from St. Thomas University. He joined Riviera Beach in June 2023 as deputy chief of police.
He became assistant city manager last year.
